News

Security officials in Moscow reportedly interrogated an activist
working for one of Russia's leading human rights organizations, which
one referred to erroneously and pejoratively as a "Jewish
organization," according to a report today issued by the "Memorial"
NGO. According to the report, on December 12, Bakhrom Khamroev, an
ethnic Uzbek activist who works for "Memorial" in Moscow, was
detained. Perhaps coincidentally, Mr. Khamroev had just given an
interview with a Dutch reporter about the persecution of Muslims in
Russia. Two security officers, at least one of whom was from the FSB,
detained him and an acquaintance from Dagestan and took them to a
police station. An FSB officer there in plain clothes then
interrogated him, calling "Memorial" a "Jewish organization" and
threatening Mr. Khamroev that if he reported his detention, "no Jews
will be able to help you" and that security officials will stuff him
in the trunk of a car and take him off somewhere, presumably to be
killed. The officer then started defaming Tajiks and Uzbeks, accusing
them of committing 90% of the crimes in Moscow, and opining that too
many "guys with beards" (a reference to devout Muslims) were in
Russia. These Muslims, the officer reportedly said, look loyal on the
outside, but can set a terrorist bomb at any point. A few hours
later, Mr. Khamroev and his acquaintance were released.